Fluid yarn-transfer device



1962 T. w. BARNES ETAL 3,051,364

FLUID YARN-TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-l SPINNING AND EXTRUSION ASSEMBLY YARN TRANSFER APPARATUS NEXT YARN HANDLING STATION WINDING OR ORIENTATION INVENTORS THOMAS WILSON BARNES BROADUS EDWARD HILL,JR.

Isa 9A ATTORNEY g- 1962 T. w. BARNES ETAL 3,051,364

FLUID YARN-TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 6. 2 Fl G. 3

INVENTORS :THOMAS WILSON BARNES BROADUS EDWARD HILM ATTORNEY United States Patent Oil-ice 3,5l,364 Patented Aug. 28, 1952 3,051,364 FLUID YARN-TRANSFER DEVICE Thomas Wilson Barnes, Donelsou, Tenn, and Broadus Edward Hill, In, Kinston, N.C., assignors to E. 1. ill Pont de Nernours and Company, Wilmington, Del, a

corporation of Delaware Filed June 8, 1961, Ser. No. 115,752; 6 Claims. (Cl. 22697) This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating continuous operation of a process involving moving yarns, filaments, or the like, especially where yarn transfer over a considerable vertical distance is involved. The invention is particularly concerned with yarn-transfer apparatus having provision for temporary collection of yarn.

The production of yarn composed of synthetic filaments usually involves extrusion of the filaments from a spinneret vertically downward to a winding device. The filaments may be stretched to orient them prior to Winding, and other processing steps prior to winding may be added as well. To facilitate maintenance of optimum conditions both in the extrusion assembly and at the first subsequent yarn-handling position, the latter is usually spaced a considerable distance from the former. In actual practice the extrusion assembly is often located on one floor of the building in which the process is carried out and the next yarn-handling position is located on the floor next below in a position more or less directly underneath the extrusion chamber.

Since there are many units involved in the continuous processing of textile filaments, at least two operators are usually required. The first operator sees that the filaments are being extruded properly from each of a series of spinnerets and that these filaments are being passed properly to the next yarn-handling position, e.g., winding or orienting, on the floor below. The operator at this lower level also has various duties to perform with the several units in his charge to see that the continuous process is being properly maintained. Since each operator is responsible for a large number of units, the fact that both operators must cooperate to pool their efforts to start up any one given unit leads, in practice, to shutdown periods of considerable duration.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apparatus for receiving moving yarn and forward it continuously from one location to another location. Another object is to provide yarn-transfer apparatus for facilitating initial filament extrusion from a spinneret. ,Yet another object is to provide an apparatus which will transfer extruded filaments from one location to another and which can collect these filaments when through-passage is not desired. Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a yarn-transfer apparatus comprising a tube having discharge and receiving extremities, a cup mounted on said tube near the discharge extremity thereof for swinging movement to and from a position in closing relationship to the bottom of said tube, a means for controlling the movement of said cup attached to said cup, a suction means below said discharge extremity, said suction means opening into said cup when the cup is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of said tube, a fluid injection means opening into the tube near the receiving extremity thereof, said means being positioned for directing a flow of fluid toward said discharge extremity, a valve connected to said injection means for controlling the flow of fluid thereto and a valve connected to said suction means for controlling the fluid flow thereto. Preferably, a linkage is supplied for simultaneous toggle actuation of said valves and actuation of said cup for closing movement with respect to the bottom of the tube. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a catch is mounted on the cup and a catch-engaging element is mounted on said linkage.

Additional objects will become apparent in the following specification in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a general schematic illustration of a continuous process showing the yarn-transfer apparatus of the present invention with relation to other assemblies in the production of melt-spun synthetic filaments.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side view of the yarn-transfer apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 2.

The yarn-transfer apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 includes as components thereof a support 1 upon which a hollow cylinder 2 is mounted. A foraminous cup 3 is pivotally mounted on the cylinder at 4. The cup 3, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, is in the open position, i.e., with catch 5, mounted on cup 3, engaging and holding resilient knob 6 mounted on plate 7. Alternate broken line 8 in FIGURE 2 represents the cup in a closed position covering the bottom of cylinder 2 and in peripheral engagement with support 1. A handle 9 is mounted on the cup. A suction means 10 is mounted at a slight angle on support 1.

The suction means, as shown in FIGURE 2, includes as component parts thereof a diffusion tube 11 mounted in and extending longitudinally into and out from housing 12. An inlet tube 13 having an axially tapered inlet orifice 14 is slideably mounted in the other extremity of the housing 12 and extends therefrom through support 1 toward the bottom of cylinder 2. The exposed portion of inlet tube 13, including orifice 14, is positioned to be completely contained by the foraminous cup 3 when it is in a closed position, as is represented by broken lines 8 in FIGURE 2. The inlet tube 13 is of lesser diameter than diflusion tube 11 and its tapered extremity 15 extends slightly into, yet in spaced relationship from, diffusion tube 11. The housing 12 has an enlarged internal chamber 16 and a radial opening 17 in the housing wall is provided thereto for receipt of fluid supply conduit 18. The fiow of fluid into the suction means is regulated by valve 19 which is actuated by toggle switch 24} (shown in the figures in the down or off position). A set screw 21, passing through the wall of housing 12, engages and secures inlet tube 13 in the desired position.

An injection jet 22 is telescoped onto and extends from supply conduit 23 to enter the wall of the cylinder 2 near the top of the cylinder. The nozzle of the injection jet (not shown) is positioned to direct a flow of fluid toward the bottom of the cylinder. Fluid supply to the conduit 23 is regulated by valve 24 which is actuated by toggle switch 25 (shown in the off position in FIGURE 2). A linkage assembly 26 is slideably mounted on the support 1 for movement in the longitudinal plane of the cylinder.

The linkage assembly consists of an elongated handle 27 having a shoulder 28 housing toggle switch 25. The handle 27 is slideably mounted on support 1 and is attached to shouldered shaft 29 (also slideably mounted on the support), which is, in turn, attached to flexible cable 30. The cable is attached to the shouldered extremity of shaft 31 and slideably held by brackets 32 and 33. Plate 7 having resilient knob 6 is mounted in fixed engagement with shaft 31. An arm 34 having an opening 35 is attached to the extremity of shaft 31. The opening 35 receives toggle switch 20 which passes therethrough and it is so constructed and positioned with relation to linkage 26 and toggle switch 20 that upward movement of the linkage toward the top of the cylinder will cause arm 34 to engage 3 toggle switch 20 and flip it from the down or off position to the up or on position; however, the maximum downward movement of arm 34 allowed by linkage 26 will not result in the arm engaging toggle switch 20 to cause it to be flipped down or to the of position.

A filament-receiving guide 36 may be positioned directly above the cylinder 2 and attached to the support 1 or to some other structure and a similar filament guide 37 is attached to the support 1 directly below the cylinder 2 in a position to avoid contact with and interference by the cup 3 in a closed position.

In actual operation, the illustrated apparatus can be located between the extrusion assembly and the next yarnhandling station, as shown in FIGURE 1, to facilitate continuous processing conditions as described earlier.

When start-up of such a continuous operation is undertaken, the operator of the extrusion apparatus raises shoulder 28 to engage toggle switch 25 and flip it up to the on position, thereby also raising linkage 26 and causing lower peripheral engagement of the opening 35 in arm 34 with toggle switch 25 to flip the toggle switch 25 to the up or on position and causing shaft 31 to be raised which causes plate '7, having resilient knob 6, to raise and disengages knob 6 from catch allowing foraminous cup 3 to fall to the closed position covering the bottom of the cylinder 2. As a result of this action, injection jet 22 has been turned on and fluid (usually air) is being directed from the top toward the bottom of the cylinder 2. Also, fluid (usually air) has been allowed to flow through valve 19 to conduit 18 and into the internal chamber 16 of housing 12 of suction means Because inlet tube 13 has a surface-tapered extremity tapered toward the longitudinal axis of the tube and directed away from its opposite extremity and since this inlet tube extremity 15 extends into diffusion tube 11, yet is in spaced relationship therefrom, a venturi effect is established, directing a force of fluid toward the opposite extremity of diffusion tube 11 and causing a suction effect at orifice 14. The amount of suction produced can be regulated by longitudinal movement of inlet tube 13 within the housing 12.

Filaments 38 are now led to cylinder 2 and are forced toward the suction jet 10 by the force of the fluid from the injection jet 22. They are received by the suction means and transmitted to waste through the extremity of diffusion tube 1 1. The cup 3, in a closed position, prevents the escape of filaments and its forarninous surface prevents the presence of interfering currents.

When the operator at the extrusion apparatus is assured that the filaments are entering the cylinder 2, he releases the elongated handle 27 causing the linkage 26 to fall to its initial depressed position which causes shoulder 28 to flip toggle switch to the off position shutting 01f the fluid entering to injection jet 22. Because of the particular construction of the arm 34 and the opening therein 35, the lowering of linkage 26 will not cause the engagement of arm 34 with toggle switch 20. The moving filaments are then threaded through guide 36, separating them into appropriate threadlines if desired.

Since the foraminous cup is maintained in the up position when the apparatus is not in operation, its presence in the down or closed position is the signal to the operator at this position that start-up of spinning has occurred in this unit and that filaments are coming down the cylinder 2 to pass through suction jet 10. The operator can also see the threadline through the holes in the cup. When conditions are appropriate, this operator lifts the cup 3 by handle 9 and causes engagement between catch 5 and knob 6. He then picks up the moving filaments, usually with the aid of a sucker gun or other portable forwarding device by bringing the gun close to the moving filaments and then cutting the bundle of filaments between the gun and the inlet orifice 14 of the suction means. A typical sucker gun is described in United States Patent No. 2,667,964 to Miller. After the operator has secured the moving filaments in the sucker gun, he flips toggle switch 20 to the off position to stop the flow of fluid to suction means 10 and proceeds to string up the filaments in the manner prescribed for the next process step, including string up of the filaments in the lower filament guide 37.

In the event of any discontinuity at the extrusion ap paratus suificiently serious to break down the continuous process, the same sequence of operations is repeated as soon as the operator at the upper level has returned the extrusion apparatus to normal working order.

In carrying out his operations, the operator at the lower level may find it convenient to employ the yarn-transfer apparatus to maintain the filaments in motion while suitable adjustments are made at the lower level. With the foraminous cup in the raised position and the suction means turned on, this can be accomplished readily by cutting the filaments and holding them momentarily in the immediate vicinity of the suction means, which will take them to waste.

An important feature of the present apparatus is the safety with which it may be employed. The yarn is under control at all times, eliminating danger of the lower floor operator losing control of the yarn dropped from above and the yarn being caught in high speed rolls, possibly trapping the operators hand in the process.

It is readily apparent that the apparatus described herein can find use with processes involving many kinds of textile materials and it is also apparent that many changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed yarntransfer apparatus without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the foraminous cup may be spring actuated to facilitate raising the cup, with a catch to hold it in closed position. The tube need not be situated vertically, and if desired may be made wide enough to accommodate several bundles of filaments, with addition of more injection jets if desired. The cross section of the tube at the receiving extremity need not be the same as the cross section at the discharge extremity. Many equivalent modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the above without a departure from the invention which is, therefore, intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A yarn-transfer apparatus comprising a tube having discharge and receiving extremities, a cup mounted on said tube near the discharge extremity thereof for swinging movement to and from a position in closing relationship to the bottom of said tube, a means for controlling the movement of said cup attached to said cup, a suction means below said discharge extremity, said suction means opening into said cup when the cup is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of said tube, a fluid injection means opening into the tube near the receiving extremity thereof, said means being positioned for directing a flow of fluid toward said discharge extremity, a valve connected to said injection means for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, and a valve connected to said suction means for controlling the fluid flow thereto.

2. A yarn-transfer apparatus comprising a support, a tube mounted on said support, said tube having discharge and receiving extremities, a cup mounted on said tube near the discharge extremity thereof for swinging movement to and from a position in closing relationship to the bottom of said tube, a catch mounted on the cup, a suction means mounted on the support below said discharge extremity, said suction means opening into said cup when it is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of said tube, a fluid injection means mounted on the support and opening into the tube near the receiving extremity thereof, said fluid injection means being positioned for directing a flow of fluid toward said discharge extremity, two valves, one of said valves connected to said suction means and the other connected to said injection means, for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, a linkage connected to each valve for the simultaneous actuation thereof, and a catch-engaging element mounted on the linkage for engaging said catch, said linkage including a part for releasing said catch.

3. A yarn-transfer apparatus comprising a support, a tube mounted on the support, said tube having discharge and receiving extremities, a foraminous cup mounted on the tube near the discharge extremity thereof for swinging movement to and from a position in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of said tube, a catch mounted on said cup, a handle mounted on said cup, a suction means mounted on the support below said discharge extremity, said suction means opening into said cup when it is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of the tube, an injection jet mounted on said support and opening into the tube near the receiving extremity thereof, said injection jet being positioned for directing a flow .of fluid toward said discharge extremity, valves connected to said injection jet and to said suction mean-s for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, a linkage connected to each valve for the simultaneous actuation thereof, and a catch-engaging element mounted on the linkage for engaging said catch, said linkage including a part for releasing said catch.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a first guide element is mounted on the support above said receiving extremity and wherein a second guide is mounted on the support beneath said discharge extremity, the said guides being positioned for guiding yarn through the tube, said second guide being mounted on the support at a point free from interference with said cup when it is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of the tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the said valves are toggle actuated and wherein the said catch-engaging element is a resilient knob.

6. A yarn-transfer apparatus comprising a support, a hollow cylinder mounted on said support and having discharge and receiving extremities, a foraminous cup mounted on said cylinder near the discharge extremity thereof for swinging movement to and from a position in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of the said cylinder, a catch mounted on said cup, a handle mounted on said cup, a suction means mounted on said support, said suction means comprising a housing having an elongated passage extending therethrough, said passage having an interim portion of increased cross-sectional area, there being a first tube slideably mounted in and at one end of the passage and provided with a tapered orifice at the exposed extremity thereof, adjustable locking means interconnecting the first tube and the housing, and a second tube mounted in and at the other end of the passage, said tubes terminating in the interim portion of the passage and said first tube extending into and being spaced from said second tube, said housing being provided with an inlet for the admission of a fluid into the passage, said suction means being mounted on the support below said discharge extremity of the cylinder and said suction means opening into said cup when it is in closing relationship to the discharge extremity of the tube, an injection jet mounted on the holder and opening into the cylinder near the receiving extremity thereof, said injection jet being positioned for directing a fiow of fluid toward said discharge extremity, valves connected to each jet for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, a linkage connected to each valve for simultaneous actuation thereof, and a catch-engaging element mounted on the said linkage for engaging the catch, said linkage including a part for releasing the said catch.

No references cited. 

